His dignity and graciousness overruled their timidity, and
bowing in silence they both once more approached the well, and
letting down their golden buckets drew up some water and poured it
into a jeweled cup and offered it to the stranger.
He received it from them with both hands, raising it to the
height of his forehead in token of high respect and pleasure, and
then drank the water quickly, for his thirst was great. When he had
finished his long draught he set the cup down on the edge of the
well, and drawing his short sword he cut off one of the strange
curved jewels (magatama), a necklace of which hung round his neck
and fell over his breast. He placed the jewel in the cup and
returned it to them, and said, bowing deeply:
"This is a token of my thanks!"
The two ladies took
